Brush with fluid dispenser

ABSTRACT

A brush has a hollow body having a working surface, a reservoir for a fluid inside the body, a valve to dispense fluid contained in the reservoir through a nozzle onto a surface to be engaged by the working surface of the brush and an activation mechanism for the valve, further comprising on a side of the body opposite the working surface, an opening or window through which a fluid level in the reservoir can be observed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to brushes, e.g., hairbrushes, and in particular to a brush that dispenses a fluid onto the engaged surface, e.g., the hair of the scalp while combing the surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hairbrush that also dispenses a fluid while combing the hair. The fluid can be, for example, perfume, water or toilet water, hair tonic or lotion or any other suitable fluid. The invention provides a convenient way to combine the functions of brushing the hair and at the same time refreshing, infusing or aromatizing the hair with a liquid substance, for example, perfume, water, toilet water, hair tonic, etc.

According to one aspect, the invention comprises a brush comprising a hollow body having a working surface, a reservoir for a fluid inside the body, a valve to dispense fluid contained in the reservoir through a nozzle onto a surface to be engaged by the working surface of the brush, and an activation mechanism for the valve, further comprising on a side of the body opposite the working surface, an opening or window through which a fluid level in the reservoir can be observed.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

The invention will now be described in greater detail in the following detailed description with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a front view of the brush;

FIG. 2 shows a side, cross sectional view of the brush;

FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the brush;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the brush; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an alternative embodiment of the brush.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, a hairbrush is provided with a hollow body, preferably made of any suitable plastic. The hollow body is provided with a reservoir that can be filled with a fluid to be dispensed when combing/brushing. In one embodiment, the hollow body can be made to receive a separable transparent or transparent in part bottle that contains the fluid. The transparent bottle or part thereof may be made from any suitable transparent material, for example, glass, plexiglass, or other plastic, etc. In one embodiment, the bottle is equipped with a nozzle and has a valve to control the ejection of the fluid. A finger button is preferably disposed on the body of the brush and operates the valve. The button can be located in any convenient location on the body to activate the valve. It can be located on the top of the body, on the working surface of the brush where the bristles are or may be located on the opposite surface of the brush. The button and ejection nozzle may also be integral with the brush making it a unified design. The bottle can be reusable or disposable with the spray head screwed or snapped or otherwise fastened onto the bottle to allow for opening the bottle and refilling of the fluid or the entire bottle can be disposed of and a new one installed.

On the surface of the brush opposite the working surface having the bristles, that is, on the side opposite the bristles, an opening or window or a clear plastic panel is provided so that the fill level of the fluid in the bottle can be observed through the transparent bottle or transparent bottle part.

Preferably, the bottle is pressurized by a pump action valve that pumps air into the bottle to pressurize it, thereby allowing the fluid to be dispensed in a spray pattern onto the body surface being combed.

Alternatively, an aerosol type container, most usually disposable, could be adapted to the hairbrush.

With reference now in the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the hairbrush according to one embodiment of the invention. The hairbrush includes on its working surface 5, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of bristles 10 disposed on a body or case 20 of the hairbrush. A spray nozzle head 30 is provided for dispensing a fluid. The fluid dispensation is activated by a finger actuated activation panel, button or member 40.

FIG. 2 is a partial cut-away side view. The bristles 10 for brushing the hair are attached to the body 20 which is grasped by the user. Inside the hollow body 20, a reservoir for fluid that may comprise a removable container or bottle 50 is disposed which is inserted into the hollow body 20 from the lower end through an opening 60. The container/bottle 50 is transparent or has a transparent window. Various fastening means can be employed to hold the bottle in the brush body, e.g., a bottom closure, snap-fit, screw-in design.

Alternatively, instead of a removable container, the fluid reservoir 50 may be a permanent refillable sealable reservoir disposed in the body 20 into which the fluid can be refilled.

At the top, a finger actuated activation panel or button 40, in this embodiment, integral with the body 20, actuates a valve 70 to eject fluid from the reservoir 50. The valve 70 can be a pump-action type valve (pump dispenser) that pumps air into the reservoir 50 to pressurize it (as shown by arrows 55) to allow the fluid to be dispensed through the nozzle head 30. Such pump-action dispensers are well-known in consumer products, for example, personal care products such as hair sprays, suntan liquid sprays, etc., as well as in many other consumer care products. The fluid is dispensed through a distribution tube 80 provided in the reservoir 50 connected to the valve 70. The spray pattern is shown at 75.

Alternatively, the reservoir 50 can be of the aerosol type with the aerosol container having a clear window or made of a transparent material.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the valve 70 is integral with the bottle 50. The button 40 and nozzle 30 are integral with the brush body 20. However, other designs can be employed where the button, valve and nozzle are integral with the bottle 50. In a design where the reservoir is permanent and refillable, the button, valve and nozzle are integral in the body.

Turning to FIG. 3, this view shows the side of the hairbrush opposite from that shown in FIG. 1. This is the side that the palm of the hand would rest against. On this side, an opening 90 (e.g., an empty opening) or a clear window, for example, glass or plastic, but preferably a clear plastic, is disposed so that the fluid level in the reservoir or transparent (or transparent in part) container 50 can be viewed by the user so that when empty, either a new full container can be attached or, in the case of a refillable reservoir, the reservoir can be refilled.

FIG. 4 shows the brush in a perspective view.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an alternative embodiment of the brush where like parts have been designated with primes.

The invention thus provides a convenient and functional brush that allows the user to comb the hair and by pressing the finger button, to refresh the hair with the fluid contained in the reservoir, and at the same time allows the user to see the fluid fill level.

Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims. 

1. A brush comprising: a hollow body having a hollow section, a top end, a lower end opposite the top end, and a working surface extending between the top end and the lower end, the working surface including a plurality of bristles; an opening at the lower end; a removable reservoir for a fluid insertable into and removable from the hollow section through the opening at the lower end; a valve to dispense fluid contained in the reservoir through a nozzle, and through the working surface onto a surface to be engaged by the working surface of the brush; an activation mechanism for the valve located at the top end of the hollow body; and on a side of the body opposite the working surface, an opening or window leading into the hollow section through which a fluid level in the reservoir can be observed.
 2. The brush of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is a refillable reservoir.
 3. The brush of claim 1, wherein the reservoir has at least a transparent part that coincides with the opening or window.
 4. The brush of claim 1, wherein the reservoir includes a distribution tube for supplying fluid to the valve.
 5. The brush of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a pump-action dispenser to pressurize the reservoir and dispense the fluid.
 6. (canceled)
 7. The brush of claim 1, wherein the reservoir comprises the valve.
 8. The brush of claim 1, wherein the opening or window comprises a transparent window.
 9. The brush of claim 3, wherein the reservoir is fully transparent.
 10. The brush of claim 1, wherein the valve is integral in the body.
 11. The brush of claim 1, wherein the activation mechanism for the valve is integral in the body.
 12. The brush of claim 1, wherein the removable reservoir comprises an aerosol container.
 13. (canceled)
 14. The brush of claim 1, wherein the nozzle is integral in the body. 